E85 making a come back?
- Thread starter jkhawaii
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It was around a decade ago - but I can’t find any lately. I used to run the Tundra (which is flex fuel) on E85 when E85 was significantly cheaper than regular, and noted that it seemed to have a bit more power. But the Navy Exchange in Virginia Beach stopped carrying it. Now, in Orlando, I can’t find it either.
I think you're seeing a push in ethanol additization in general to secure domestic gas supplies and lower prices, especially in light of whats been happening "over there". Also, the President is BIG on supporting the agri side, so corn market will stay flush for the foreseeable future. Lots of push to make E15 a permanent part of our fuel landscape instead of just E10 and then there is the EPA 
. Thought we where gonna get rid of that 
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. Thought we where gonna get rid of that .- Joined
- Jul 18, 2022
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I used it almost exclusively in my F150 in 2018/2019, it was about 50% the price of E10 at the time. Last 5 years I really haven't seen as favorable a price spread so I haven't been using it. I take around a 20% MPG hit using it.
I assume that because e85 is 55%-85% ethanol, the price spread changes based on whatever % you are getting.
Is 55% ethanol more expensive than 85% ethanol?
I assume that because e85 is 55%-85% ethanol, the price spread changes based on whatever % you are getting.
Is 55% ethanol more expensive than 85% ethanol?
It's popular here. Gas is $5 and e85 is $2.25 or so.
We do get a lot of cars in the shop with e85 in them that can't run that fuel. The owner saw cheap "gas" and filled up.
We do get a lot of cars in the shop with e85 in them that can't run that fuel. The owner saw cheap "gas" and filled up.
What happens if you put E85 in a no E85 car?
Never left the Midwest around here: Kum & Go/Maverick, QT (newer ones) & Casey's all have pumps.
I have Subarus and they don't recommend it. Sister used to use it in her flex fuel Dodge/Chyslers but now uses Sam's gas now for convenience.
I am not convinced of either the economic value of it or what it may do to non-e85 cars.
I have Subarus and they don't recommend it. Sister used to use it in her flex fuel Dodge/Chyslers but now uses Sam's gas now for convenience.
I am not convinced of either the economic value of it or what it may do to non-e85 cars.
Still plenty of E85 in my area on NW IA, though we are the primary source for corn as well. But I hardly know anyone that uses E85 besides people using it as race gas.
15% ethanol I'm not a fan of. I tried it in my 3.5 ecoboost F150 and saw a loss of 2-3mpg and at idle it was a little shaky. In our Subaru Ascent we saw a similar drop in fuel economy as well, but ran fine. When I had a 2012 F150 5.0 flexfuel I tried E85 for a few tanks. I recall it taking more throttle for the same acceleration and fuel mileage dropped significantly to the point where E85 had to be 1/2 the price of 87 for the dollars and cents to break even. Not to mention as it got colder it took longer to start and took a lot longer to reach operating temperature, sometimes 30+ minutes of driving. So I never used E85 again just because I didn't like how it ran and seeing a 36gal tank (usually filled at 1/8th tank) barely make it over 300 miles really bothered me, just felt like a waste.
15% ethanol I'm not a fan of. I tried it in my 3.5 ecoboost F150 and saw a loss of 2-3mpg and at idle it was a little shaky. In our Subaru Ascent we saw a similar drop in fuel economy as well, but ran fine. When I had a 2012 F150 5.0 flexfuel I tried E85 for a few tanks. I recall it taking more throttle for the same acceleration and fuel mileage dropped significantly to the point where E85 had to be 1/2 the price of 87 for the dollars and cents to break even. Not to mention as it got colder it took longer to start and took a lot longer to reach operating temperature, sometimes 30+ minutes of driving. So I never used E85 again just because I didn't like how it ran and seeing a 36gal tank (usually filled at 1/8th tank) barely make it over 300 miles really bothered me, just felt like a waste.
Typically the percentage changes are due to seasonal temps. In NW IA we typically see 78-85% (station dependant) from late Feb/early Mar to around mid-late Sept. During the colder months the percentage decreases due to it being harder to start at low temps. Though in my area the prices don't change with seasonal changes, seems to follow in line with the rest of the gas price changes.
Only on station near work carries it anywhere around me. I can certainly tell a difference in power versus 87 but the math doesn't work at $3 vs $3.75. We took a trip to Mt Rushmore two weeks ago and it was under $2 several places so we used it then.
It will most likely be extremely lean if it'll run at all, because stoichiometric for E85 is 9.7:1 and E10 is 14.3:1. Non Ethanol is 14.7:1
Flex fuel vehicles use wideband oxygen sensors, non flex use narrow band sensors and a narrow band won't be able to make the adjustments needed to the short and long term fuel trim tables.
If it will run (terrible) your injectors will clog soon because the E85 will eat the glue from you your paper fuel filter and send it down your soon to rust non stainless steel fuel lines.
The injectors can't flow enough fuel which triggers the cel. Lean misfire codes follow. Might stall completely.
Car gets brought to the shop. E85 smells much different than gasoline and looks different too
More and more stations are popping up over the midwest over the last decade. I remember Houston never had any (no surprise being an oil city), but there's been a large boom recently and I see more and more stations carrying it. The strange part is that for everywhere in Texas, on the whole, if you are seeking higher than 87 AKI, splash blending makes more immediate cost sense than premium. This also assumes you are ok with splash blending and running higher E, ect. The prices I drew up are dated now, but not by much, and I assumed a 1.35 GGE factor:
There are only a few places in the area that sell it. One of those places is right by my office, so I've been using a lot of it in the past few months, as it's priced about $1.50 less than most of the e10 around here. Probably a wash on the cost, but it the truck runs like a scared cat on it. I think my best balance for mileage and price is at about 65% e10 and 35% e85.
Here in eastern Iowa, it is plentiful. We use it in our 2014 T&C which is flex fuel compatible. The price gap for E85 to E15 has closed in the summer months here, but for the most part still remains a viable option for us. We see ~20% hit in mileage but the price is ~25%+ difference. This past winter it was ~40-50% difference. The van is garage kept and only goes around town for most of its trips. The longer starting in the winter is not a concern.
Side effects in a non-flex fuel system are fuel line/system damage and not fueling enough and running lean. Trying to save a few bucks on E85 will ruin your day in a hurry and it is going to be expensive.
Side effects in a non-flex fuel system are fuel line/system damage and not fueling enough and running lean. Trying to save a few bucks on E85 will ruin your day in a hurry and it is going to be expensive.
Our 2012 T&C is rated for E85 but I have zero desire to run it
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